Thursday update

I was right...nothing much has happened today but I have read more of my book, got the second wood burner going since the electricity has been on/off for some of the day but not for long.  I cancelled my lesson with my student. I might not have got back into the village if I had actually got out and that could have created a bigger problem.

It's still snowing.....it's very pretty and there is some super snow art around that might just need to be photographed in the morning...

LN...back to my book and hopefully a good night's sleep..... there is nothing to wake up early for tomorrow...and having checked the five day weather report, we are in for minus double figures at night for the next few days, I've got the feeling that the men won't be back before next year.

Friday 23rd December

Out fairly early and got the logs in and wood trimmings from the roof to go into the little wood burner.  Some of the other logs are just too big and don't really burn regularly so I thought that I would get it gathered in....the temperature is going to drop tonight to minus ten so I read so winter really draws on.

Dull this morning but the sun came out this afternoon....very slow day but had a surprise visitor from Gouljan this afternoon with a Christmas present, her mother's homemade bread and some clay for a face pack....odd selection.  I was making soup when she arrived so I stuck it on the wood burner and had it when she had left.

We sat around and talked students and what we are respectively doing over the holiday.  She's finished work now until the sixth January and I'm going to her house on Monday.  One of their relatives sent some curtains up from Turkey and they need shortening so my sewing machine is out visiting on Monday. Gouljan loved my tree and to date hasn't stolen one from the forest.  Destined for tomorrow I think and my promised one with roots has not been delivered from the Forestry Commission so one is likely to get strung up if one doesn't deliver.

Went out and took some photos this afternoon and sent out my email Christmas card since sending them out from here via snail mail is expensive and cards here aren't what they are in the UK.   The cars are buried in the snow and I saw one of my neighbours and she appeared to be clearing the snow from underneath her son's car but on her knees doing it....I can see me doing that....   

Dark now....I have had BBC Radio 2 on most of the day and as for Hammersmith flyover...what is happening there?  Chris Tarrant is burbling away at the moment along with Giles Brandreth getting in the odd word and he's advertising his latest London performance.

LN.....finished my onion, potato and spicy sausage soup accompanied by Gouljan's mother's bread roll.  Stuffed and there is enough for tomorrow...now to post the pickies....I'm back to my book.

Happy Christmas Elsa and a wonderful new year,
keep warm, stay safe ,and we raise a glass of the red stuff to your good heath  
Jackie & Danny

Saturday 24th December

Thanks Jackie and Danny for your good wishes...not sure if you are here or there but wherever you are I cherish the thought of a glass raised any day of the year.  Let's hope next year sees you out here permanently.....

Seven thirty start this morning and both fires just going and both salvaged.  Checked the thermometer and only down to minus two so didn't rush with the logging...decided it could wait until poached eggs on toast were prepared and eaten.  Set about getting enough wood in for the next few days, cleared some of the debris from the wood store, snow from the terrace and from the steps leading to the wreck.  I had visions of coming out of there with a basket of logs and going base over apex if it turned slippery underfoot.

My attention then focused on clearing the snow from Beauty and opening up my route to the road.  The snow plough does its stuff as you can see from yesterday's pickies but it does tend to leave a two foot wall that stops you getting to the road.  Success...so much so that I decided to go into Djebel and get the pressies for my neighbours that I hadn't managed to get before the snow hit so tonight's task is to parcel them up and have them ready for the morning.  I was surprised to see Bekir in Djebel standing forlorn by a car and he had been into Kardjali with his friend who had been working in Belgium.  I was introduced as his 'patron' and me not being totally sure of this embellishment introduced myself his friend who he happens to work for.

Drove back and realised that there was no way I could turn round to be able to reverse into the drive so had to drive down to more or less Gouljan's village to find a side road.  Car back off the road....weather report as you can see threatens more of the white stuff on Monday and Tuesday...about to start wrapping presents....so now I'm off.....

Can I just send Christmas wishes to you all and may your New Year bring you what is good for you and not necessarily what you think you need....

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year Elsa!

I doubt we'll have a white Christmas, so throw a snowball for me! xXx

Quoted from MikeyB

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year Elsa!

I doubt we'll have a white Christmas, so throw a snowball for me! xXx

Thanks Mikey B...and lots of love to you all.

I've just gone out and done it....the guy wasn't too happy about it but hey.....it's Christmas....for me anyway....

Sunday 25th December

Firstly Merry Christmas...Went out at seven thirty this morning to empty the ash can and forgot to look at the thermometer but it was rather chilly.  Tried to see it with the binoculars from the inside of the house...doh...and eventually had to go out there and take the picture of it....minus twelve....eeks

I've put on my Santa outfit and delivered presents to my ladies and they were overwhelmed.  Picked up two chocolates on the way and the offer of a stuffed pancake.  Ate the chocolates, declined the pancake....eating a proper roast later so don't want to take the edge off my hunger.  Phoned up and got a weather report for the village I'm going to and it looks like I have to leave my car and ....walk the last two hundred yards, so snow boots at the ready and ski trousers and shovel already in the car should my Beauty decide to take to the verges and not stay on the straight and narrow.  If only life was that simple.

Enjoy whatever the day brings be it beans on toast or the usual Christmas fare.  I'll update you later unless I get lost on the way back...or like Oates...this could take some time...

A very Merry Christmas to you Elsa.  I hope you have an enjoyable day.  Make sure you get home okay tonight.  Can't have you wandering the countryside in the snow.
No snow here, so I won't be building a snowman today.

Hi Elsa,
Hope your Xmas day has been good. Ours is nearly over, What can I say, 32, sunny, arvo breeze and prawns on the barbie, along with cold turkey ham and salads....mince pies, pavlova and fruit salad etc. Kids played in pool most of the day and us bigguns sat around nibbling and drinking. The joy of the Aussie Xmas. My Mum overwhelmed with small gifts and she had her hot Xmas dinner in the Air-Con. But like your photo's, its not really Xmas unless there is snow. LOL. It looks beautiful there, and spoke to my daughter in Austria last night and it was the same there, she sent me 2 photos on my phone and it looks cold but beautiful. Have a warm wonderful night and take care. Merry Xmas. Linda, Rachel and All.xx

PS; Did u receive a yellow envalope yet?

Quoted from 50

A very Merry Christmas to you Elsa.  I hope you have an enjoyable day.  Make sure you get home okay tonight.  Can't have you wandering the countryside in the snow.
No snow here, so I won't be building a snowman today.

Just to let you know Danuta that I am safe and sound and back in one piece.  The road where it goes through the forest had impacted snow on it this morning so I knew that I had to take care on the way back.  Bulgarian drivers think that the white line down the middle of the road has to be kept central to the car...at all times

Came back with sausage rolls and Christmas cake that I refused at the time.  It seemed to be bountifully laced with brandy and I didn't want to be held up as an example of Brits abroad by the Bulgarian Police.  

Sausage rolls gone, cake three quarters gone, bottle open as it was an alcohol free lunch for me...settling in for the evening with the rest of the bottle and a good book....

As for the yellow envelope Linda, I did thank you for it in an earlier post but I suppose leading up to the holiday you may have missed it.  Many thanks and lots of love to all of you.

That bottle is getting warm my the fire and it's log throwing time....LN....and guess who forgot her camera this morning....to snap the festive table....agh well...another year...